By Dave Warner

LITTLE FALLS, NY — The City of Little Falls Common Council convened for its regularly scheduled meeting on September 2, 2025, where Mayor Deborah Kaufman delivered an update on the city’s financial health and ongoing development projects, while a resident urged action on maintaining cleaner storefronts downtown.

In her monthly comments, Mayor Kaufman highlighted the city’s cash position, noting a total of $1,747,883.92 in the General Fund, Water, Sewer, and Golf accounts before a Revenue Anticipation Note (RAN) payoff, plus an additional $894,298.29 in reserves. “We owed $904,606.15 on 8/29 for our RAN, and that was paid off,” Mayor Kaufman stated, adding that the city has collected $3,664,291.21 of an expected $3,960,736.89 in tax revenue. She also anticipated receiving $3 million in deficit financing around September 17.

Mayor Kaufman reported $380,288.31 in total outstanding invoices, broken down by aging: $88,934.52 over 90-120 days, $68,616.15 in 60-90 days, $123,825.52 in 30-60 days, and $98,923.41 in 0-30 days.

Beyond finances, Mayor Kaufman shared positive developments in the community. “We’ve been visited by a production location scout for an upcoming television series. Very positive comments from his visit to Little Falls,” she said, indicating potential filming in April and the fall of 2026 involving 300 crew members for about 20 days.

Other visitors included Assemblyman Smullen, set to tour Canal Place on September 10, and Tim Ryan and his team from the Division of the Budget, who toured city facilities in August to discuss deficit financing.

New businesses were a bright spot, with Kaufman announcing, “We have a new restaurant going into the Copper Moose location. TokaBocco, a fusion restaurant with a blending of Asian/Mexican flavors.” She also noted the opening of Fox Tale Bakery in Canal Place, which has seen “impressive demand for sourdough baked goods and cookies,” and the completion of updates at The Ritter Lodge, a 16-guest Airbnb welcoming its first visitors this week. Adirondack Bank has taken possession of its new East Main Street location and completed front landscaping.

Mayor Kaufman commented on several development projects, including:

CVS Shopping Center (potential market-rate apartments)
Berkshire Bank (Cannabis Dispensary)
Adirondack Bank (Burrell Bldg) – Developer interest in market-rate apartments
Hotel/Spa – Pausing to identify key personnel for project design
Zaida – No activity
Dairyman – No activity
Rockton Plaza – Awaiting grant news
Valley View Courts – Early design/scope work
Urban Redevelopment Group, LLC – Workforce housing (modular & stick)

On grants, Mayor Kaufman discussed Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) projects: “Main Street Canopy – looking at a public forum late fall to focus in on elements like the canopy, diagonal parking, and bicycle access.” Main Street Improvement is underway, and Seeley Promenade awaits permitting from Canal Corp. For the HOME grant, the city has requested CT Male to apply for $500,000, with awards expected in December. “This is a very popular grant, and we closed out another successful year recently,” Mayor Kaufman added.

During the public comment segment, resident Allen Kazmerski praised the progress but raised concerns about unkempt storefronts on Main Street. “It’s nice to see that we’ve got a new bakery coming to town, and it’s nice to see that perhaps the Copper Moose has a new tenant for a restaurant. Maybe we’re turning the corner on our vacancies on Main Street. But we do have an issue,” Kazmerski said.

He continued, “We have storefronts where store owners don’t keep their windows inside or outside clean, and they don’t sweep the storefronts or walkways. So I’m asking that the Common Council look into writing an ordinance that compels… store shops to keep their windows clean and sweep the sidewalks. And it should have some teeth. So if they are not in compliance, a certified letter is sent to the shop owners.”

Kazmerski suggested escalating fines: “$100 for the first month, $250 for the second, $500 for a third month. And if they don’t pay the fines, they are added to the tax levy.” He emphasized the impact on the city’s image: “When I bring friends or visitors to walk down Main Street, it’s embarrassing. And I imagine when investors come in, they look and walk down Main Street. It’s embarrassing to see these dirty windows. So I just think it’s a way that we can help Main Street look a little bit nicer to future investors.”

Local Law #9 – Amending Local Law #8 of 2024 for Calendar to Fiscal Year, with a Local Law per State Guidance, passed unanimously.

Local Law #10 – Amending Local Law #5 of June 3, 2025, Establishing a Uniform Schedule of Fees for the Codes Department Permit Fees for Inspection passed unanimously.

Resolution #74 was deleted from the agenda before the meeting, and the subsequent Resolutions were renumbered accordingly.

Resolution #74 – Amending the West Canada Creek Fire District Contract passed unanimously.

Resolution #75 – To Pay Additional Costs of the construction improvements to and reconstruction of the water treatment plant and related water system facilities passed unanimously.

Resolution #76 – Authorizing the Mayor to execute seller’s agreements with River Hills Properties and Purchase offer agreements for the sale of certain vacant City-owned properties was passed unanimously. However, at the end of the Council meeting, there was a change to this, giving the Mayor some discretion up to 25% to accept offers that might deviate from the listed market rate.

You can watch the meeting on YouTube or view it below.